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Tuesday, October 10, 2017

How to Get Started Painting Rocks

Rock painting is the hot new hobby of 2017. Many people who are not crafty or who have never painted before want to get involved. I love that! As new crafters are flocking to rock painting forums everywhere, people are asking How do I get started painting rocks? Or What is the best paint for painting rocks?

As a lifelong crafter, avid rock painter and professional craft tutorial writer I felt pretty well equipped to answer this question!

This is my ultimate guide to getting started rock painting including a list of my favorite tools and paints for painting rocks.

Similar to the Outdoor paint (above), the Multi-Surface paint is also outdoor safe. It's designed to work well on lots of different things including fabric so if you think you might want to paint other things, I would get this one to have a good multi-purpose paint in your stash.

Martha Stewart paint is also highly pigmented and has the same multi-surface properties as the FolkArt Multi-surface paint. It also works well with the Martha Stewart Marbling medium so if you want to make marbled rocks, this is another great multi-use paint to keep in your paint stash. It comes in lots of different finishes: Satin, Matte, Gloss, Pearl, Metallic and Glitter - all of them are great for rocks.

Glitter Paint

Glitter is actually surprisingly controversial in the world of rock painting! If you are playing the hide-and-seek game with your rocks it is important that you don't put things on your rocks that could fall off and become litter - so googly eyes, stickers, and loose glitter are advised against. If you are going to do glitter, it's best to use a glitter paint where the glitter is part of the paint and will be permanently adhered to the rock once dry.

To get an all-over sparkle effect on your painted rocks, you can also use Sparkle Formula Mod Podge or Extreme Glitz Formula Mod Podge. The glitter is bound in the Mod Podge so you won't have to worry about it flaking off. It's important to note that most Mod Podge formulas are water soluble so you will need to use a sealer to make a rock painted with Mod Podge weather proof. (see info on sealers below!)

Similar to Mod Podge, this Martha Stewart Durable Glitter Decoupage will add sparkle to your project without you needing to worry about the glitter falling off. You will, however, need to give your project a full 3 weeks to cure before it will be outdoor safe if you don't want to use a spray sealer on it.

3D Paint

FolkArt 3D paint is perfect for both freehand drawing or making mandalas. Use it alone or in combination with other paint types for different cool effects. This paint just came out the summer of 2017 so not all stores carry it. Call your local store to check stock or order it from Amazon here.

Best Paintbrushes and Tools for Painting Rocks

Martha Stewart Crafts paint brushes are my absolute favorite paintbrushes to use for nearly any application. The bristles are sturdy and tightly bound (so they won't come off onto your project) and the handles are a durable, ergonomic shape. Buy it: Buy them on Amazon here or from Consumer Crafts.

If the Martha Stewart paintbrushes aren't in your budget, my second favorite brushes are the FolkArt paint brushes with an ergonomic grip. Buy it: To get started, I recommend the detail brush pack and the wider wash brush set.

If you are interested in painting mandalas or dot art, I like these dotting tools. The larger balls are less useful for rock painting (I tend to only use the five smallest sizes) but the set is a good price overall. Buy it: Shoppy Embossing Dotter Stylus Tool on Amazon

Best Sealer for Rocks

A lot of people are saying that you can use Mod Podge to seal rocks. I do NOT recommend using Mod Podge to seal rocks for hiding outdoors unless it is the Dishwasher Safe formula. This is because most formulas of Mod Podge are water soluble.

Even though most Mod Podge will get cloudy or even sticky if exposed to water, the Dishwasher Safe Formula is very water resistant. I also love that it is non-toxic and can be applied inside. The one downside of using it is that is needs to cure for 30 days before the rock will be ready to face the elements. (but if it's winter time and you are going to squirrel away rocks to go out and hide in the Spring that becomes a non-issue)

Similar to the dishwwasher safe Mod Podge, the Martha Stewart Decoupage Medium needs to cure for 30 days before the rock will be ready to face the elements. But, again, if it's winter time and you are going to squirrel away rocks to go out and hide in the Spring that becomes a non-issue.

I have not yet found any other non-toxic, brush-on sealer that dries truly clear and can stand up to the elements.

Spray Sealer

I don't generally prefer spray sealers because they need to be applied outdoors between a temperature of 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit - making it hard to use during the winter. Aerosol cans are also not exactly known for being environmentally friendly.

All that to say, most clear spray sealers that say they are for indoor/outdoor or outdoor use will work to seal rocks if you did not paint your rocks with a self-sealing paint like FolkArt Outdoor (or Multi-Surface) or the Martha Stewart paints.

About the Author:

Carissa is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer for Creative Green Living, she is also the author ofBeautiful Smoothie Bowlsas well as several ebooks. You can also find her projects featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3 and Capper's Farmer. Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and fun! Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group.

Hi, I'm Carissa! I want to help you make healthier choices for your family that are both BEAUTIFUL & DELICIOUS! My life is proof positive that being green doesn't have to be bland or boring! Read more...

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Carissa's Creativity Space (creativecarissa.com) became Creative Green Living in February 2013. As such the watermarks on many of our old posts may reflect the previous site name.